Maritime News

U.S. containerized imports in 2015 will increase a paltry 1.7 percent, dragged down by West Coast port congestion, JOC Economist Mario Moreno told the 15th annual TPM Conference in Long Beach on Monday.

Spot rates on the Asia to the Middle East and South Asia are being undermined as carriers on the trades struggle to maintain load factors to support freight rate increases, according to Drewry Container Insight.

SeaLand, the hallowed container shipping brand relaunched by Maersk Line in January, sees an opportunity to gain market share in the Latin American lanes resulting from two mergers — between two German container lines and two Chilean carriers.

A premium shipping market awaits container lines who would be willing to offer premium service at a higher price than commoditized service offered by most carriers today, Kuehne+Nagel Chairman Karl Gernandt told TPM 2015.

Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou said ships with capacities of 25,000 20-foot-equivalent units are possible but not practical today, and that he expects 18,000- to 19,000-TEU container ships to remain the largest afloat for years to come.